Atlanta Falcons players speak to the media post-practice at AT&T Training Camp | Press Conference

Touch with the guys. >> Oh, yeah. It was a blessing. Um, you know, things uh I had a little situation over in San Francisco. So, you know, my biggest thing was just getting on a team where I know I can contribute and you know, help win games. So, and then when it lined up I'm coming back home, I mean it's just two blessings in one. So, excited for the opportunity. >> How about from Charlotte to to to Atlanta? How was that journey? >> Yeah, it's crazy. Um, even taking it past Charlotte, just uh growing up here, you know, I remember coming up to the practices sitting in the stands watching. So, now to be on the other side of that it's kind of a surreal full circle moment. So, it's just a blessing for those I grew up with and you know, watched me come up through elementary, middle school, high school, I get to come back and play for the home team. >> How was it suiting up in the preseason game and running out into the Benz as a as a Falcon? >> Yeah, it was dope. Uh, you know, that's an experience I've never been on. I've been on the other side of it, but coming in feeling the energy from the fans, the I mean it was it was surreal in there. So, it was happy and I can't wait to get back in there and put on for the city. >> How do you think the group responded, just the team overall responded today after kind of the way the first preseason went? >> Yeah, you know, anytime you strap up you want to get the win. So, when you don't, you know, you got to go back, be honest with yourself, you know, from coaches on down. I feel like we did that and um we were just intentional coming out starting with energy and um I feel like we did that today, came out and we're working in the right direction for sure. >> What was the situation in San Francisco you said? >> Um, yeah, you know, signed there in free agency. Um, just a bad timing with a slight injury. Um, so you know, we had to pivot, but you know, uh God works in mysterious ways. Everything happens for a reason, so I'm where I'm supposed to be. >> Knowing the situation you're walking into with Pearson Jaywalk, what's your plan? How do you approach that and what have those conversations been like with the coaching staff coming into this new >> Um, yeah. So, um I mean I hate it for those guys, you know, Jaywalk. I haven't really got a chance to meet him, but I saw the work he put out there. I know I know he wants it bad. From being around JP, same type of attitude. So, you know, hate it for those guys, but for me uh my approach to the game is indifferent. You know, I prepare I prepare to be the starter every week, you know, that's my mindset. I want to not only play, but know that I want the team to be able to count on me to play 15 snaps to 65. So, that's just my mindset. So, I've just been getting overtime with the coaches, coming in learning the playbook. You know, I just got here like 3 or 4 days ago. So, you know, that's uh that's probably the biggest challenge getting back in game shape and learning the playbook. So, I'm just attacking it head-on. >> Ken, how would you describe your play style and kind of what you're bringing to this defense? >> Um yeah, you know, um I got that kind of F you mentality out there, you know, physical, you know, I want to set the tone. We dictate the tempo and um just a guy who can get it done from multiple spots. I can play outside, I can rush inside. So, just kind of that chess piece up front and going to bring the attitude to win. >> Did you get the sense that that is something that was intentional about bringing you in is that F you mentality and what they kind of want to add to this defense? >> Yeah, definitely. From talking with DC, you know, Coach Odom, you know, all the coaches, you know, we want to you know, for good teams you got to have a nasty defense and you you kind of that has to be like contagious around from secondary to linebacker to D-line. So, you know, more guys we getting with that mindset, the better we going to play this defense. >> Ken, tell us a little bit more about this mindset. Where does that come from for you? >> Um I think it's just really been instilled to me since like little, you know, come from hard-working family. So, my mom used to bust her ass, my dad used to bust her ass. So, they kind of instilled that in me. So, I've always been a hard worker my whole life. Um coming out of high school under recruited, I was just always head down working mentality. So, I mean that's I'm not where I want to be, but that's got me this far so far. So, there's no reason to switch that up. So, I take pride in that. >> For some players, a switch kind of flips for them when they get on the field. It doesn't feel like a switch really needs to flip with you all that much, but describe the mindset when you're stepping on the field. >> Uh yeah, I mean it's it's killer be killed, you know, you know, actually y'all getting to know me, I'm a good personality guy. I joke around a lot, but >> [laughter] >> when it's between the white lines it's war. So, you know, you got to have that balance. You know, for other guys it takes different things for them to get ready, but I just make sure when I step on the field I'm I'm always ready to roll. >> It's been 3 or 4 days, you don't have a large sample size, but what's your first impressions of this defense? >> Um I like it. Um up front, you know, they want us to get after it, set the tempo, be nasty. We got some athletic linebackers who can cover range, uh fit off of us. And um just from watching last year and even here, we got DBs who go up and make plays on the ball. So, that's what you want. So, it's all about just building as a team, coming together, and make sure when it's time to roll out we're one to be a unit. >> Traveling traveling to Indy this week, how do you measure success with joint practices? >> Um yeah, you know, I think it starts with individual battles. You always want to win your one-on-ones. So, especially as a D-lineman, you know, I want to beat the offensive front of me, but just just making our presence felt as a defense. I feel like whenever defense makes an impression on the practice against the offense, you're doing something right direction. >> How much do you enjoy those, you know, breaking up the season and having facing another team? >> Uh you know, it's good. You always want to um you know, we get work against each other all the time. But, you always want to test your sword against uh you know, guys around the league cuz we go against these guys every day. So, it's kind of easy to pick up on tendencies and stuff, but you know, you play a different opponent every week. So, it's good to kind of see a new face out there and put put a helmet on someone in a different color jersey. >> Do you get more out of um joint practices or the preseason games? >> Um good question. I feel like it just depends on your rep count, you know, you know, I know how it's structured. Some guys might play more in practice than the actual game. So, just maximizing your reps. So, whether that's in practice or in the game, you just got to do your best. >> you? >> Yeah. I just want to roll. I want to get the playbook out and roll. So, you know, I mean uh anytime I strap up, I just it's a eval for me. So, you know, I want to put my best foot forward regardless. >> Any reflections on your time in Cincinnati or takeaways from that period in your career? >> Um yeah, you know, it was a um you know, I'm always grateful to them. That's the team that drafted me, you know, changed my for me and my family's life forever. So, nothing but love and respect for those guys over there. And um you know, from going to a Super Bowl to a AFC Championship and not getting back to the playoffs, you know, I kind of realized, you know, as a rookie going to Super Bowl, you feel like, man, I might do this every year. It's easy. But, you know, the league's not like that. Uh you see the challenges every year. So, now I've been like itching and clawing to get back. And I know we got guys here who've been in the playoffs, some who haven't. So, I think we're all kind of pushing to the same goal. So, just focus on getting back to the playoffs. >> Has Jessie here helped you a little bit? >> Yeah, that's my guy, you know, um when I got drafted, I think Jessie was probably the first Bengal to reach out. And you know, he was like that big brother for me coming to Cincinnati, you know, made sure I was good and all that. So, I didn't tell him I was coming here until I wanted to make sure everything was official. But, I saw him in the hallway. It's good to always have a familiar face in. So, that's my guy. I love to be back with him. >> What What his reaction to you in the hallway? >> Uh it was uh he didn't recognize me at first cuz I grew my beard out. So, he kind of did a double take. He was like, "Cam?" And we dapped up, uh, chopped it up for a little bit. Um, told me about how good of an opportunity it was here and just to, um, lock in and maximize it. So, I told him, "You know, you know what I do." So. >> The run defense didn't go off the way that you wanted on Friday. Kind of what do you guys want to accomplish as a group up there in the middle of the show? >> Yeah, you know, you, uh, you always want to make a team one-dimensional. When a team can run the ball on you, that opens up play action game, drop back pass. So, we want to stop the run and go have some fun. So, I think we want to go up there put our foot down, stop the run game, make them one-dimensional, just pin pin our ears back and go get money. >> You mentioned the fact that this is a new opportunity for you several times now. Aside from the fact that you are coming home and that's a big deal, obviously, what does this opportunity truly mean to you? >> Um, it means the world. Um, you know, I, uh, I tore my Achilles a couple years ago. So, that kind of changed my perspective on the game. Not really like I was a guy who took it for granted, but when you have a whole season kind of taken away from you like that, it kind of just makes you more hungry, want to maximize the opportunity. So, now I got my feet back under me. I'm fully healthy. So, I just want to go out there and put my best foot forward and just maximize the God-given opportunity. >> Cam, do you have a favorite play you've ever been a part of? >> Ooh. >> High school, college, pros? >> Uh, man, a good question. Uh. Yeah, probably, um. I'll just go with college. Uh, my senior year, uh, my first game of senior year, you know, the off season was funny cuz during COVID, we didn't even know we were going to have a game. Um, so, our coach kind of sent us home, said, "Work out. Hopefully we'll play. If not, I mean, good luck." Basically, but uh, so, we went there to South Alabama. I think I had like seven, eight tackles, uh, two sacks, um. One in the last drive of the game and, uh, a couple of friends that ended. So, that was just like the good stepping stone in kind of trajectory of my NFL career and trying to put my name on the map. >> How are you going to manage ticket requests for all your friends and family? >> Ooh. Um, you know, uh, so, I got a system in place. I kind of funnel all that through my parents and they're kind of the sticklers about it. So, I mean, close ones can hit me up, but I kind of funnel it to the parents and they kind of they kind of keep it easy for me, for sure. >> So, if you get directed to the parents, that means you probably don't get a ticket at all, though. line. >> Um, you know what? They So, it'll go through the parents and they channel it back to me. We'll see what's going on. But, just so they're not blowing me up all week, especially now, you know what I'm saying? Just kind of keeps the funnel. So, some of them are scared to ask the parents, so that kind of helps too. >> [laughter] >> Or they're hard. They're like >> Yeah, you know, my my parents don't play. Yeah, they don't play. Yeah, for sure. >> Just overall, how did you feel the team's energy was, you know, coming into this practice after that first preseason game? >> I think we brought more energy um today out for practice than um you know, we probably had uh in our first preseason game. So, uh the improvement was good. >> What was the biggest takeaway just uh from you and the defense really after that first game? >> Uh just more celebration uh between um each other. Uh just bringing more energy. Uh even as this, you know, a little trash talk to the offense a little bit, you know, just something that just, you know, brings some camaraderie to our side of the ball. >> With Jessie out, how valuable is this opportunity been for you in this portion of camp getting all these reps? >> Um you know, anytime I'm on the field, you know, I'm treating it, you know, like I'm a one. Um so, you know, I definitely value every rep I take on the field, you know, no matter who I'm in there with, no matter when I'm called, you know, just taking, you know, every rep as a one rep will just, you know, help me in the long run. >> What do you see from from Xavier getting to play next to him now for a couple weeks closely on the field uh just in terms of how he's grown from his first year? >> Uh you know, X is a great player. Um he's somebody I, you know, I like to call a gamer. Um you know, he does a lot of things that you know, is you know, you know, you you know, just looking at the plays, you you know, you wouldn't really think that that would be, you know, maybe his play to make. But, you know, he just has a really high football IQ. >> What do you like about joint practices? >> Uh gives us the um you know, the ability in the preseason, just like we do in the regular season, to you know, scout our opponent a little bit more. Um you know, as we're also you know, evaluating each other. Um you know, evaluating the offense um as an opponent is good. Um and joint practices and um you know, it also gives us, you know, just some extra leg up in the game as well. >> What do you like the focus? What's been the focus for you specifically throughout training camp up to at point in the off season? >> Um really just the same approach every day is for me is just to be a pro. Um, just taking one day at a time. Um, you know, no matter, you know, you know, when my time is called or or what role it's going to be in. Um, just, you know, being ready for my opportunity whenever it comes. >> Do you like joint practices more than preseason games? Like which one do you think you get the most value in? >> Uh, I like preseason games. Um, just cuz I like being in the game. Um, I like really being able to, you know, hit. Um, you know, not really have, you know, a coach telling us, you know, to dial back a little bit or anything like that. So, I'm much more of a player that likes to play in the game. >> How would you measure success with joint practices? >> Um, really just who executed the best. Um, you know, who had the less amount least amount of penalties. Um, who could get the opponent off their game. Uh, whether it is, you know, them getting false starts, you know, starting a little unnecessary bickering, you know, just just winning the day, you know, just winning the day. You know, that's winning the joint practice to me. That would be a win. >> respect for the Colts. Um, y'all had a good game, clean game with them over there. And respect will be a big part of keeping the practices clean. >> Yeah, for sure. I, you know, I'd say our coach Stefanski, um, you know, that's one thing that he's preached to us, you know, just to, you know, start, you know, and just be a be a team first type of players. And a part of being a team first guy is, you know, allowing everybody to get better. Um, you know, and fighting at a joint practice or anything like that, that can end a practice early. Um, you know, that can, um, you know, just prolong, you know, getting better. So, definitely it's a respect on our on our side. Uh, it should be respect on their side. You know, we just want to have a collaborative practice. >> Marco, what did coach Wilks say about the front defense in particular from from Friday? >> Uh, just, you know, just being more stout. Um, I think that that ties into all three levels of the defense. Um, just playing more stout, playing more downhill, and you know, just, you know, things that we that he saw that were good and uh, you know, things that we can improve on, of course. >> Just to get back on the field real play. >> Being stout and being more on it with that. I've heard of that. How would you describe like how do you get better at that? >> I mean I I I really think everybody watches the tape um as an individual and you know critiques their own effort cuz they only know how much that they can give. But uh you know from a a just play style standpoint, you know, just being more downhill um as far as that goes. Tightening up as far as our safety play or you know just playing more downhill once we recognize run pass. >> What was the defense reaction just overall um when the James Pierre-Louis came out and kind of what was the message to the team? >> Um honestly it wasn't really a message to the team um and that's something that James has to deal with. Um you know it's something that we supported him on. You know, really just as a team and as a player for myself, I really try to focus on things that I can control and you know you know James' situation is really out of my control. >> One thing that Kevin Stefanski said specifically about the James situation after the game was that he has showed up to work every day to try to be a good teammate and to try to get back to what he was doing before. What can you say about his approach to training camp and the way he's been working every day? >> Yeah, that's one thing that I can say is um you know James has been a great teammate. Um he's approached practice every day uh you know with a great attitude, great effort in practice. Um he's very attentive in meetings so you know from what I can say about James is you know he's definitely you know came to came to work every day you know with a with a good mindset. >> With James out and with the Jaylen out for the for the season, talk about any pressure that all of this puts on your room and you safeties in the gaps. You guys going to do while this cloud of uncertainty kind of clears >> Uh I don't think it puts any extra pressure on our room. You know, I feel like our room is ready to handle whatever pressure comes with you know playing the defensive side of the ball, playing DB. And uh we definitely have guys that we feel can step up uh in those pass rush rooms and the defensive line rooms as well. So you know, I feel like we'll be fine. >> Who do you think has stood out to you kind of and can kind of step up? >> Uh I really [snorts] pay attention to my room a lot, but uh, I really think everybody on the D-line has a chance. You know, I It's hard for me to call out any one player specifically without feeling like, you know, I'm miscrediting someone else. So, I really feel like the whole D-line has really taken that up as a room to, you know, step up for JP and James. I mean, uh, Jay Walker and uh, James while they're down. >> How do you feel like you've grown with Jeff Ulbrich as your defensive coordinator? >> Uh, really just my, you know, my joy, my joy for the game. You know, I think as a defensive player in the NFL and, you know, sometimes as a young guy who has a lot of high expectations for theirself, um, you know, I think sometimes you lose your joy for the game. But, um, you know, Brick has really, you know, just, you know, brought that mindset uh, for our defense and, you know, really just for everybody on our team from being a player in the league for a a good time and to just, you know, he calls us lucky, you know, just lucky to be out here, um, and just be able to do something that, you know, uh, for a long time I did for free. Um, you know, just to have this be my job now is a blessing, um, that I try to, you know, whenever I do get frustrated, I try to, you know, take a step back and realize that I'm in a blessed position. >> Um, how do you feel just like the energy was in practice today, kind of bouncing back after that game? >> I think everybody came today with some good energy knowing that we did some things we need to get better on and just coming out attacking and still like pushing through everything. >> What was kind of your biggest takeaway after the the opening game? >> Uh, the biggest takeaway was just for us to keep crafting on what we all knew. We still all trying to gel together, so the big thing was just keep trusting the process and attacking the things we know we need to attack. >> How much are you looking forward to facing another team for a couple days and doing practices in Indy? >> Uh, I'm looking I'm excited to cuz, you know, you It puts a place where you guys are and then allows you to work on your game against someone else. We don't really know you after having a couple weeks of training camp with some guys, so it's just good to attack somebody else in their scheme and their plays. >> You got a lot of reps with the ones, it would appear. How how comfortable are you in that role here? >> I'm pretty comfortable. I mean, I'm never You never say you got it. You know, there's always stuff you can work on, but uh definitely comfortable with the guys around me. They push me and I push them, so it's a fun thing. It's fun process. >> You played under Kevin, right? You played with him? >> Yes, for a little bit. >> So, why did you want to come back here and play under him again here in Atlanta? >> I mean, I feel I believe he's a great coach. He really know what he's doing. I mean, he took Cleveland to a playoffs a couple times, so it's like and he know how to push his players, too. He's a motivating coach, so I'll never like not want to play for him. >> So, how how does he push you then? Like, kind of >> I mean, he knows who you are. He He takes time with his people, so he'll see you and like, you know, be you, you know, attack and do what you doing, what you best at. >> You talked about the different things that he likes to look for in joint workouts. What are you looking forward to most in those? >> Just to keep progressing my game, keep getting closer with my teammates, you know, um and just you know, being a standard that we trying to set in this defense. >> What was the defense's reaction when they heard that James Pierce was going to have to miss half the season and who's going to really be able to step up in his absence? >> I think everybody just got around him, you know, picked him up cuz it's still, you know, a down thing, even though he probably knew it was coming, but uh everybody got around him, you know, kept his spirit up and like, you in these playoff game um preseason games, you know, show what you can do and just go out there work, you know. >> We did see number three back out there today. What did it mean to see him out there working out? >> Thanks. It's always great cuz he's a great leader and he brings the energy, you know, and like, he see being back there, he see things you don't really see, so he helps you out a lot, too.